A/n: Thank you for the favorite and review! Though if you guys sign your reviews I'd be able to thank you properly. But THANKS nevertheless ^^ Here's chapter 2.
"A mistake is to commit a misunderstanding." -Bob Dylan
2. Tensions
Mikan's POV
I was standing with my group when I saw Tsubasa-senpai wave at me from the fountain in the main courtyard. As if it was involuntary reflex, I darted towards him and he opened his arms for me, smiling benevolently like he always does.
I hugged him tight and felt warm in his embrace. We parted after a tight squeeze. His dark blue eyes looked like marbles from up front, and I could see the water of the fountain reflected on his face – the light was casting beautiful, fluid, watery shadows that moved on his cheek.
I touched the little star under his eye and he grinned at me.
"Welcome back!" He greeted me with sincere enthusiasm. "I have a present for you," said he in his soft voice. My eyes widened as I opened the little rectangular box in my hand. I pulled the ribbon quickly and couldn't stop the smile spreading on my face.
"It's a coupon for unlimited Howalons. Pick as many as you like." He offered generously.
Just then, I felt a presence, his presence towards my left. Ignoring him completely, I stood on my toes and pecked senpai on his cheek to show my gratitude.
I heard a growl as Tsubasa –senpai's cap caught fire. To be honest, it startled me. Irritated, I shot a death glare in the fire-caster's direction, nullifying his next attack with my Alice.
I stole a quick glance in Hotaru's direction, to see that she was already walking away with others. Ugh. Traitors, I tell you.
Even though it had been three months since I last saw him, it felt like time had just paused and resumed. His anger, the way his eyes pulled together in concentration, eyebrows twitching, the corners of his mouth turned into a frown, hands balled into fists, jaw line tense… none of it had changed. I knew Natsume was fuming. But I didn't understand what he was angry about. All summer, I was the one who waited. I was the one who had to pick up the pieces of disappointed hopes. Then … why?
I had avoided gazing into his eyes, bright, blood red and hypnotizing but my gaze betrayed me and lingered where it shouldn't have. Straight into his. Naturally, he locked is eyes with mine, never once blinking as he walked towards me.
Before I knew it, his hand had roughly grabbed my wrist. Where his skin touched mine, electricity shot up from his touch to my toes, the tingling sensation of his touch just accelerated the blush on my cheeks. I couldn't answer him when he held me captive in his eyes like this… Stupid… handsome… Natsume.
I could feel another touch, warm and soft that jerked away my wrist from his hold. Finally broken free from Natsume's relentless eyes, which had now locked themselves with Tsubasa-senpai, I pushed him slightly in the chest, but he was unmoved, and looked at me with a bored expression.
"Keep your hands off me, little girl."
His voice had the ability to send butterflies flying straight away in my stomach. I shook my head to shake away the spell he was putting on me, and glared at him, hands balled into fists.
"Hyuuga, you have no right to assault Tsubasa-senpai."
I knew I touched a soft spot. For a second, I saw hurt in his eyes before he masked it, replacing it with boredom and cold indifference.
"I was just saving you from this pedophile. He shouldn't be touching underage girls." He sneered.
I would have slapped his cocky face for saying that about senpai, but Tsubasa –senpai held my hand and spoke in a cold, yet calm voice to the fire-caster.
"Natsume, I have no idea what notions you're entertaining about Mikan and me, but I am just going to say this once. I love her, but I think love means something else for both of us." He mocked.
I could sense the aura surrounding Natsume. His blood was boiling and I could literally hear it.
"Senpai… you should be heading to class," I murmured, my face hung low. Tsubasa-senpai patted my head and smiled before giving one hard, cold look to Natsume and walking away, hands in his pockets.
I turned around swiftly too, ignored Natsume completely and hopped to join my friends. I took long steps, catching up to them easily. "First class?" Koko smirked. "P.E." I found myself smiling too. "Yay!" I cheered. P.E was my favorite class. I loved the wind against my skin, blowing freely, playing with my hair, challenging and teasing me by pushing me back with its force as I ran forward. I loved the feeling of running, like I was going to reach somewhere if I just kept on going… achieve some dream.
Then I thought about… my parents.
I think of them often. I wonder why they abandoned me. People told me they died and I was taken in by an old man, who's my grandpa now. But I don't believe so. I know they are alive somewhere, but they just left me. They left me and I need to find them and just ask them … why? That's my biggest dream.
"Hello? Earth to Mikan?"
I snapped out of my thoughts as we entered the gym. Hotaru, Nonoko, Anna and I separated from the boys and went to our respective locker rooms.
I changed into my white shorts, tank top, pink pullover with "Alice Academy" on it in bright letters, and running shoes.
When I stepped out onto the field, I could see Natsume sitting on the bleachers, looking bored as the cheerleaders surrounded him and Ruka.
Luna Koziumi had her arm around his.
I felt a sharp pang of pain in my heart.
This was the worst part about P.E. The playing field was huge, which meant that boys and girls shared it and it was compulsory for all freshmen years. Basically, it was unavoidable. Seeing Natsume.
I felt a small tap on my shoulder and turned around to see Hotaru. Her amethyst eyes look strained, though they shone bright in the sun.
"Let's go baka, playing time." She smirked.
I grinned, trying to mask all the hurt. We got into positions for soccer, and Hotaru put on a mask as she resumed position of goal keeper.
I tried to ignore Natsume for a while. I loved soccer. We got to do lots of running, and we used our Alices to play. It was almost impossible scoring against Hotaru… but then again that's what made it fun.
Natsume's POV
What a crappy start to a crappy semester.
Mikan had been canoodling with that bastard shadow manipulator in the morning. She had ignored me afterwards, not bothering to give an explanation, and now she looked perfectly happy playing soccer, center forward, in front of me while Luna the creep said sweet nothings in my ear.
I pushed her away angrily.
Ruka apologized on my behalf and returned to cheerleader practice. Thank GOD.
"Ahem," Ruka coughed. I shot him one look of boredom, raising an eyebrow to beckon him to say whatever the hell he wanted to.
"Err…. Are you and Mikan still together?"
I hated this question because I didn't even know the answer to it myself. "Whatever," I said, trying to put him off, but he looked determined.
"Nat… if something happened, I just want to let you know I am here for you." He said as he smiled encouragingly at me, patting my shoulder.
Ruka would always be Ruka. I didn't need to tell him how I felt for him to know what was going on in my mind.
I was watching her intently as she kicked the ball forward, her eyes pulled together in utmost concentration, tongue between her teeth. Her face looked so funny. I laughed softly to myself.
Mikan's eyes shot in my direction. And froze. She froze.
Her breath was uneven from all the running. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead, making her bangs damp, sticking to her skin. Her legs were longer, but her height hadn't increased much. Her frame was still tiny, fragile, breakable. Her hair had grown longer since the last time I saw it, and I was so mesmerized by her that I couldn't take my eyes off her.
I could never take my eyes off Mikan.
Just then the referee blew the whistle. Persona stalked over to us, 'pissed off' written on his face in capital letters. "Hyuuga, Nogi!"
I grunted a "Hn," in response whereas Ruka stood up, alarmed.
"It seems you're a little too distracting for Sakura. Off with both of you."
I smirked as I saw Mikan blush redder than a tomato. She crossed her arms across her chest and walked over to coach, stomping her feet in protest.
It was a hilarious sight, tiny Mikan trying to get attention from Persona, tall as a tower. I chuckled. "Um EXCUSE ME Coach!" Mikan cleared her throat.
Persona looked down at her, lacking amusement in his eyes. "You don't need to shout Sakura. I am standing next to you."
I saw her looking flustered. Even Ruka was grinning. "Ummm, I am not distracted by Hyuuga. Or Ruka-pyon." She quickly added.
Right. I am Hyuuga? And he's Ruka-pyon?
I grunted. Mikan rolled her eyes. Persona looked at Ruka in disbelief. "Do I want to know?" Ruka shook his head.
"It doesn't look like that Sakura. Now back to practice. Off you go Hyuuga, Ruka-pyon." Persona shooed us.
I laughed as we left the bleachers. Way to go Polka dots.
Our classes were different. My courses, AP Government & Politics, Business, Math, Literature and History were only shared with Ruka, who took Math too, and Shouda who was in my Business class. Mikan and I only had Literature and PE together. Imai and Ruka had Chemistry.
That sounds so funny. Imai and Ruka had Chemistry. Nevermind.
By recess, I was already on our table with Kitsumene, Koko, Tobita, Ruka and Imai. Anna and Nonoko, Mikan's friends from Art class joined us with Mochu. Seaweed hair and Mikan were the last additions to our table.
Mikan didn't take her seat next to me as usual, but the empty seat next to Imai. I growled at her, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by anyone on the table.
Everybody could sense that something was wrong.
Throughout lunch, Mikan ignored me. She spoke to everyone about everything, but whenever anyone brought up summer, she'd avert her eyes or change the topic quickly.
I am really an ass for ditching her this summer.
Koko nodded silently. Get out of my mind now, I thought angrily and saw him 'yelp' from the other end of the table.
After recess, we went to our different classes. High school was hell, with the pressure of classes, soccer practices, AP courses, and all the internships we'd be doing this year. Plus we'd be mastering our Alices in Alice practice classes.
Those were after school hours when the non-Alice midgets went back home.
Don't blame me, all the new years are tiny midgets.
Our last period was literature, and the only seat vacant was the one next to mine. Mikan entered class and greeted everyone enthusiastically, but her eyes became dull the minute she saw me. Quietly, she walked over to me at the back of the class, and sat on the edge of her seat, furthest away from me.
I looked into her eyes seriously. I wanted her to give me a chance to explain, a chance was all I needed.
But Mikan just broke her gaze away from me, and started fiddling with her pencil.
I couldn't stop my hand as it held hers. The lights went off in class, and the teacher put on Shakespeare on the projector.
"W-what are you doing?" She spat.
"Nothing I haven't done before," I purred into her ear, breathing hot air on to her neck. Mikan turned her face to look at me slowly. I could see her chest rising and falling. "Mikan, let me explain," I pleaded.
Her eyes widened. I hadn't ever been so vulnerable to her before. But I couldn't help it. I had been dating her since elementary. Heck, I had been in love with her since elementary. And I was too deep in, to go back now.
"After class?" She breathed. I nodded. "I'll come see you tonight."
After Alice classes, we were exhausted from the day's work. Ruka and Koko were in my Special Star dorm room playing Black Ops. I sighed as I threw on my jacket. "I'll be right back," I waved at them lightly.
Mikan's POV
I combed my hair in frustration, tying them into a messy bun as I changed into my sleeping pj's and tank top. I brushed my teeth angrily, thinking of Natsume. When I was done, I was about to switch on the tv when there was a knock on the door.
"What do you – Tsubasa senpai!" I was a little startled to see him standing in my door way.
"Hey," he grinned. "May I come in?" I nodded and stepped aside to let him in. "Mikan—chan," he began slowly.
"What's wrong, senpai?" I asked, feeling worried.
"I am sorry for all the confusion in the morning with Natsume…" he said sheepishly as he looked out of the window. "I didn't want him to misunderstand anything, and I certainly didn't want to cause problems for you."
I walked over to him and put on my brightest smile. I caressed his cheek with my fingers and looked into his dark blue eyes. "Senpai, it's not your fault. I'll talk things out with him. He loves me, I know he does, and if we just talk about – this"
The door clicked open.
Natsume was standing in my doorway.
"What…. the…. FUCK is he doing here?" Natsume's eyes were burning a fiery red flame.
A/n: Aah Natsume Natsume! *smacks his head* you need anger management classes xD Please review guys! I work really hard on my chapters and I'd really appreciate it! ^^
